Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points

Two heavyweights of the English game, Liverpool and Arsenal clashed at Anfield, the erstwhile home of the Reds in what was both the clubs’ last game before the first international break of the season.

In the words of commentator Jim Beglin, “Liverpool - Arsenal games have of late always been a rip-snorter of a watch” and boy did it live up to the hype. Goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Daniel Sturridge meant that Liverpool were the run-away victors with an incredible 4-0 scoreline.

With the transfer window deadline fast approaching, there were a number of interesting subplots that played out within the actual odyssey, stars who shone bright and stars who struggled to even flicker. Here’s a lowdown of the major talking points from the first issue of the 2017-18 edition of this ever intriguing premier league match-up.

5. Liverpool hugely relevant in the title race, Arsenal not quite

Liverpool have been showing us glimpses of devastating quality up-front right from the pre-season. Hoffenhiem was decimated in the midweek and the Reds continued in the same vein today against the Gunners.

Three games into the league and Liverpool have well and truly turned up. The Arsenal defence was carved up time and again with the Liverpool attacking players almost playing for fun in the latter half of the game.

The Reds' defence did its bit as well with Liverpool looking especially assured in the full back department, something that will terribly please the legions of Liverpool fans across the world.

Arsenal, smarting from an unexpected defeat to Stoke in their last game, however, looked downright abysmal. The three man defence did not work as the Liverpool front men were way too fast for Arsenal’s wide defenders, the full backs couldn’t recover in time to lend support to their central defenders and the attack looked comically out of place.

Arsenal’s whole performance can be summed up into two statistics: the first that they could not record a single shot on goal in the entire ninety minutes and the second, that had it not been for Petr Cech, the score line could have well read something in the ilk of 6-0 or even upwards.

Arsenal need to rapidly pull up their socks to be considered serious title challengers or else at this rate, better concentrate on the Europa League and FA Cup instead.

4. Alexis and Ox - was this the last we saw of them at Arsenal?

Alexis Snachez was caught smirking on the Arsenal bench after he was substituted en route to Arsenal's disastrous loss to Liverpool

To say that this transfer window has been a bit of a roller coaster would be a gross understatement.

Long-winding sagas and astronomical transfer figures have been the order of the day with stars everywhere in the world handing in transfer requests and making their frustrations with current situations publicly known.

While Alexis Sanchez has been one of the side plots of the transfer window all summer long, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is one who has been only recently linked to a move away from Arsenal. Sanchez cannot wait to move to Manchester City and play under old boss Pep Guardiola once again (Andros Townsend’s possible move away to Leicester may quite well make that happen). Chamberlain’s case however, is more comical than tragic for football fans given that of his potential suitors, the one leading the pack, is Liverpool (already cushioning up to deal with the imminent loss of Phillipe Coutinho), incidentally also the club he may have played his last for Arsenal against.

With no more club football until the end of the international break, this may well be the last time we see these two superstars put on the famous red and white of Arsenal.

3. Is Loris Karius cut out for the big stage?

Loris Karius was handed a rare start today by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

When the team sheets were announced for the match, what stood out for Liverpool was the fact that Jurgen Klopp had decided to rest his No.1 Simon Mignolet for the match, instead opting to start with young Loris Karius in goal.

It seemed an inspired decision by the Liverpool gaffer with the possibility of Liverpool displaying its riches even in the goalkeeping department.

However, it turned out to be a bit of a mixed afternoon for Karius. Arsenal took care that the German was eased into his first premier league match since December, 2016 by accumulating a grand total of zero shots on goal, i.e. zero shots to save for the Liverpool custodian.

With the ball at his feet though, Karius struggled. Danny Welbeck closed him down on multiple occasions and it seemed only a matter of time before one of those mistakes would cost Liverpool dearly but to Karius’s credit, in the later stages of the match, he finally seemed to have learnt his lesson and looked to cut short any dilly-dallying while having possession of the ball.

Whether he has the temperament to consistently succeed on the big stage is still to be seen and for Klopp to gauge but this performance today did leave a lot to be desired.

2. Arsenal need to learn from Liverpool

Henderson and Can bossed the midfield today, something the Arsenal medios need to learn soon

One of the hallmarks of Liverpool’s stunning display today was the incessant pressing of the ball when not in possession. The likes of Jordan Henderson and Emre Can and later James Milner make it look ever so easy. The first Liverpool chance fell from Henderson’s pressing of the ball and the third goal was a result of Mo Salah’s “must win every ball” attitude.

In contrast, the Arsenal midfield consisting of Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey seemed to just be lumbering around whenever they lost possession with no hunger to win the ball back at all.

Having just come off a poor defeat to Stoke, Arsenal would have expected to have a bit more fire in the belly and look to score victory today.

Unfortunately that was not to be and if they are to harbour any hopes of remaining in the reckoning for the title, Arsene Wenger and his players will have to completely reverse engineer Liverpool’s lesson today on how to boss the midfield in a football game.

1. Liverpool may not miss Coutinho

Liverpool's current attack is well on its way to becoming an all conquering force!

By now the Coutinho saga is sure to have tested the patience of all concerned; player, managers, team administrations and fans alike. The sooner this almighty mess is cleared up, the easier it will be for everybody to finally give their hundred percent to the new season.

Based on Liverpool’s performance today against Arsenal, once could easily be forgiven for saying that Barcelona actually needs Coutinho much more than Liverpool do. With every passing game, Liverpool’s current attack is turning into one of the meanest ones seen in recent times.

Indeed, every time Mane and Salah break from their respective flanks, Liverpool looks likely to score a goal. Add to this Emre Can’s new-found ability to make decisive runs into the box, Roberto Firmino’s finely developing centre forward skills and Jordan Henderson’s innate ability to win 50-50 balls and we are looking at a ruthless combined force made up of distinct individual talents.

Oh, and did I mention Liverpool trump card Daniel Sturridge who it seems will score a goal every time he races onto the pitch. With such a fine line leading the Reds’ ranks and hoping they maintain this rich vein of form, one does not see Liverpool miss last season’s go to man Phillipe Coutinho even if he departs for Catalonia in the coming weeks.